Lab Animal Technician 1

Laboratory Animal Technician 1 - Oregon National Primate Research Center (OHSU)

The Oregon National Primate Research Center (ONPRC), part of Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU), is hiring a Laboratory Animal Technician 1 to provide animal care, husbandry, health monitoring, and research support. Located approximately 12 miles west of OHSU's main campus, the center occupies 162 acres with research facilities, animal housing, forested areas, and walking paths. Its mission is to improve human health through nonhuman primate research that advances the prevention, treatment, and cure of diseases.

Job Responsibilities

The Laboratory Animal Technician 1 performs routine animal husbandry and research support tasks under appropriate training and supervision. Responsibilities include feeding and watering animals, capturing, restraining, identifying, sexing, and transporting laboratory animals, and supporting veterinary and investigative procedures. The technician maintains clean and sanitary animal housing, equipment, and facilities through routine washing, scrubbing, disinfection, and other cleaning activities.

The role involves assisting with animal health monitoring and procedures such as weighing, tuberculosis testing, blood collection, and treatments. Additional duties include supporting group-housed animal capture and processing, caring for nursery animals, providing environmental enrichment, and assisting with animal care during weekends, holidays, and overtime shifts.

Technicians observe animals across different housing environments, identify changes in physical condition or behavior, and document and report abnormalities. They monitor facility conditions, report equipment malfunctions, perform basic maintenance, manage supply inventories, and assist with unloading and storing animal feed. The position also requires operating equipment such as cage washers, floor scrubbers, autoclaves, pressure washers, scales, and veterinary instruments.

The technician works with research staff in a professional, service-oriented manner, providing support appropriate to their training and experience. Other duties may be assigned as required.

Required Qualifications

Applicants must be able to read, write, follow oral and written instructions, and communicate effectively with technical and professional staff. They must be capable of performing general animal husbandry duties, assisting research staff, and providing research support appropriate to their training. A valid driver's license and the ability to operate DCM/ONPRC vehicles on and off campus are required.

Preferred Qualifications

Advancement requires a high school diploma or GED and mastery of relevant principles and procedures learned on the job. Preferred experience includes six months of animal-related work, Assistant Laboratory Animal Technician (ALAT) certification, or two years of indirect laboratory animal experience. Basic animal care knowledge gained through caring for household pets, farm animals, or 4-H animals is also beneficial.

Work Schedule

The regular schedule is 7:00 AM to 3:30 PM and includes weekends. After training, employees receive two consecutive days off during the week. Schedules are determined by supervisory staff and may include voluntary or mandatory weekend shifts, overtime, holidays, and other nonstandard working hours.

Benefits

Full-time employees receive healthcare coverage paid at 100% for employees and 88% for dependents, $50,000 in employer-provided term life insurance, and a choice of two pension plans. Additional benefits include up to 200 hours of vacation annually depending on service length, up to 96 hours of sick leave, nine paid holidays, public transit discounts, an Employee Assistance Program, childcare discounts, tuition reimbursement, and local and national business discounts.

Working Conditions

The position involves working on wet or slippery surfaces, navigating narrow corridors between cages, working outdoors and in non-climate-controlled areas, and climbing stairs to observation towers. Employees may be exposed to zoonotic agents through animal contact, injuries, bodily fluids, tissues, and contaminated equipment. Exposure to hazardous and sanitizing chemicals is also possible. Fit testing and the use of an N-95 respirator may be required.

Physical Requirements

Candidates must be able to lift and carry up to 50 pounds and lift approximately 42 pounds to shoulder height. The role requires pushing and pulling heavy equipment, including cage racks and loaded carts, and moving independently between indoor and outdoor animal housing facilities. Employees must have sufficient dexterity and manual skills to perform animal feeding, cleaning, capture, restraint, medication administration, sample collection, and other animal health procedures safely.

About OHSU

Oregon Health & Science University is Oregon's only public academic health center. It provides patient care, conducts advanced research, and trains future healthcare professionals. As Portland's largest employer, OHSU offers opportunities for professional development across hospitals and clinics in Oregon and Southwest Washington. OHSU welcomes applicants from diverse backgrounds and is committed to building an inclusive, multicultural institution. Reasonable accommodation requests can be directed to askhr@ohsu.edu.